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8 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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SLC18B1
solute carrier family 18 member B1
Chromosome 6 · 6q23.2
NCBI Gene: 116843Ensembl: ENSG00000146409.12HGNC: HGNC:21573UniProt: A0A3B3IT67
12PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transporter
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
polyamine:proton antiporter activityspermine transportspermidine transportserotonin uptakeParkinson diseasevitamin B12 deficiencyglomerulonephritisbenign soft tissue neoplasm
✦AI Summary

SLC18B1 encodes a vesicular polyamine transporter (VPAT) that mediates proton-coupled transport of polyamines into secretory vesicles 1. The protein functions as an antiporter, coupling H+ efflux with polyamine (spermine and spermidine) uptake using the electrochemical gradient established by V-ATPase 2. SLC18B1 is the fourth member of the SLC18 transporter family, which includes vesicular monoamine and acetylcholine transporters 3. In neurons and astrocytes, SLC18B1 mediates vesicular storage and exocytotic release of polyamines, which function as neuromodulators at ionotropic receptors, particularly N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors 2. SLC18B1 knockout in mice decreased brain polyamine levels by ~20% and impaired both short- and long-term memory 1. In mast cells, SLC18B1 regulates polyamine accumulation in secretory granules, potentiating degranulation and histamine secretion 1. The transporter is also expressed in megakaryoblastic cells and platelets, where it mediates stimulus-dependent polyamine release 4. Genetically, SLC18B1 variants, including missense variant rs41286192, are associated with shared genetic architecture linking metabolic dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases through neurotransmitter transport mechanisms 5. These findings establish SLC18B1 as a critical regulator of polyamine-mediated chemical transmission with implications for neurological and immune function.

Sources cited
1
SLC18B1 transports polyamines (spermidine and spermine) using H+ gradient; SLC18B1 knockout impairs memory and mast cell polyamine exocytosis
PMID: 32004521
2
SLC18B1 encodes vesicular polyamine transporter mediating H+ exchange for spermine/spermidine transport; predominantly expressed in hippocampus in astrocytes
PMID: 25355561
3
SLC18 family mediates neurotransmitter transport into secretory vesicles; SLC18B1 is fourth family member
PMID: 23506877
4
SLC18B1 missense variant rs41286192 is pleiotropic locus linking metabolic dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases through neurotransmitter transport
PMID: 39703124
5
VPAT/SLC18B1 mediates vesicular polyamine release from megakaryoblastic cells and platelets upon stimulation
PMID: 38527572
Disease Associationsⓘ20
Parkinson diseaseOpen Targets
0.28Weak
vitamin B12 deficiencyOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
glomerulonephritisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
benign soft tissue neoplasmOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
vertebral column disorderOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
otosclerosisOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
spinal stenosisOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
osteoarthritis, hipOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
carpal tunnel syndromeOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
COVID-19Open Targets
0.02Suggestive
Meniere diseaseOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
ovarian carcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
medulloblastomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
cystic fibrosisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
nonpapillary renal cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
X-linked hyper-IgM syndromeOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
SepsisOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
SLC17A1Protein interaction86%SLC16A1Protein interaction83%SLC18A3Shared pathway33%OTOP3Shared pathway33%OTOP2Shared pathway33%DMAC2LShared pathway33%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Bone Marrow
88%
Liver
40%
Ovary
39%
Heart
30%
Lung
23%
Gene Interaction Network
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SLC18B1SLC17A1SLC16A1SLC18A3OTOP3OTOP2DMAC2L
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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PDB9D7V · 3.30 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.54LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF1.20 [0.94–1.54]
RankingsWhere SLC18B1 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #16,570of 20,598
    Most Researched12
  • #15,387of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.54
Genes detectedSLC18B1
Sources retrieved8 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
8▼
1
Vesicular polyamine transporter as a novel player in amine-mediated chemical transmission.
PMID: 32004521
Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr · 2020
1.00
2
Investigating the common genetic architecture and causality of metabolic disorders with neurodegenerative diseases.
PMID: 39703124
Diabetes Obes Metab · 2025
0.88
3
Identification of a mammalian vesicular polyamine transporter.
PMID: 25355561
Sci Rep · 2014
0.75
4
Involvement of mammalian SoLute Carriers (SLC) in the traffic of polyamines.
PMID: 39130372
Front Mol Biosci · 2024
0.63
5
Polyamine release and vesicular polyamine transporter expression in megakaryoblastic cells and platelets.
PMID: 38527572
Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj · 2024
0.50